Citizens file measure to include health and safety on oil and gas in city charter

(Broomfield, CO) On Tuesday afternoon, nine citizens filed for petitions that would amend the Broomfield Charter to include health and safety on oil and gas decisions. The proposed language of the measure is as follows:

With regard to oil and gas development near the City’s populated areas and within the City’s boundaries, such powers shall include but not be limited to plenary authority to regulate all aspects of oil and gas development, including land use and all necessary police powers. As such, Broomfield shall condition oil and gas development permits to require oil and gas development to only occur in a manner that does not adversely impact the health, safety, and welfare of Broomfield’s residents in their workplaces, their homes, their schools, and public parks in order to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to safeguard the environment and wildlife resources.

“It is time for the City and County of Broomfield to put public health and safety first. Adding this language to our town charter will allow us to make sure that our representatives take our health, safety, and welfare into account when considering oil and gas development in Broomfield” said Cristen Logan of Anthem Highlands.

The language in the amendment mirrors that of the recent Martinez v. COGCC case where the Colorado court of appeals found that the COGCC directive “mandates the development of oil and gas in Colorado be regulated subject to the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources.” The Broomfield amendment language states that “Broomfield shall condition oil and gas development permits to require oil and gas development to only occur in a manner that does not adversely impact the health, safety, and welfare of Broomfield’s residents in their workplaces, their homes, their schools, and public parks in order to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to safeguard the environment and wildlife resources.”

For Neil Allaire, one Broomfield of the residents who filed the petition, “this is a very simple question. What is more important than the health and safety of the people of Broomfield? Of course oil and gas development needs to be done in a way that “does not adversely impact” our health and safety. How could you think otherwise?”

The City of Broomfield is currently working through a process to update its oil and gas regulations in light of a 100-well proposal. According to Kim McNaughton of Anthem Highlands, “We want Broomfield to put our health and safety first, so not only do we plan to give them the authority to do so, we plan to let them know that this is what Broomfield residents want and expect.”

“By adding this language to our town charter, we’re ensuring that the guiding principals driving our future will put our children and our community first while encouraging businesses to operate at a higher standard in Broomfield,” added Bill Young one of the residents filing the amendment language.

Should the proposed language garner the nearly 2,500 signatures necessary to qualify for the 2017 November Election, Broomfield voters will have the chance to decide whether to amend the language into the town charter.